At last the season had arrived. I had pinpointed three teams as the really hard ones. Boco, who had finished third last year and had been the team to just miss out on the ‘A’ Division was one of them! Dan was at a Christening so…..

The line up was:

Joby

Sam B Callum Jack Joel

Josh Sam K Tom Max

Joe Dan

Substitutes: Mark & Spike

We forced the early running and gained a corner. From that corner they won and broke, running quickly down the left, before cutting inside of Callum and shooting, however Joby was alert and made a great save to push the ball over the bar. Max threw the ball to Sam K, and he ran down the line to cross/shoot, however as we charged in their ‘keeper dived on it to make the save. We had a throw which came to Josh and he turned and shot. It went at the ‘keeper, however it was our first proper shot. They broke down the left quickly again and as Callum went over to cover, they knocked it inside for two attackers who were making ground quickly, however Joby was out at their feet bravely. Tom won the ball and decided to shoot. It was blocked and came back to him, so he calmly took it past the first defender and shot high again, however the ‘keeper kept his eye on the ball as it came down and held it well. They attacked and we didn’t clear it. Some pushed up but others stayed back which played them onside and their attacker calmly rounded Joby to score 1-0. They attacked again and we didn’t clear it far enough. It was headed back over us and they were quicker to react, 2-0. We won the ball on the right through Josh’s tackling and he got it left to where Tom took it on. He hit it left towards Joe who was in acres of space, and after taking a touch he hit it hard and high, giving the ‘keeper no chance 2-1. They took a goal kick which Chilly chested down and knocked through to where Tom was running in. He went past one played but their sweeper got in with a sliding tackle to hit it past their ‘keeper, but unfortunately the wrong side of the post.

HALF-TIME : BOCO 2 FRYS 1

They kicked off and Spike headed it forwards to where Sam won it. He played it inside to Max, who in turn found Chilly. He played it back out to Mark. Mark passed it back in to Chilly who had found space and he laid it off for Tom to shoot from 30 yards. It was high, but the ‘keeper would have got it, had it been on target. We got the ball over the top. Their defenders waited, their ‘keeper hesitated and about three of our players charged in with about four of theirs. The ball was knocked goalwards but was cleared off of the line and out. They hit a ball over the top into our right back area, and their fast attacker was through, however Tom hared back and got in with a great sliding tackle. They hit the subsequent corner in and there ensues a bit of a melee as we keep trying to clear it. Eventually one of our clearances hits a hand which the ref spotted and a free kick was awarded our way, however we were living dangerously. A great ball by Chilly was chased into the corner by Max & Mark, and some good interplay led to a throw to us. The effort and skill from those two needed to be noted here, as well as the brilliant ball by Chilly in the first place. They then exerted some constant pressure and eventually a shot was fired in, but Joby was equal to it with a great save. They went down their left and cut inside before curling one just inches wide of our left post.

FULL-TIME : BOCO 2 FRYS 1

Man of the Match – Chosen by Andy for excellent play and effort – Jack & Joby

Afterthoughts…………………………………………………

This was never going to be an easy game and credit must go to our team for the way that they fought. The two goals that they scored however could have been cleared if someone had just taken command in the area. If that had happened then we could be talking about our opening day victory, rather than an opening day defeat.